Low-profile blowers and methods

Abstract

A blower configured to be positioned in confined spaces and to provide ventilation of a fluid, such as temperature controlled air, is disclosed. In various embodiments, the blower is configured to have a reduced axial thickness, which can be desired in such confined spaces. In some embodiments, the blower has an integral filter, a wire channel for the routing of one or more wires, and/or an exposed backplate. In some embodiments, the blower has a snap-fit circuit board, containment system for mounting the motor, one or more vanes for directing fluid flow, shrouded impeller, and/or integrated connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A blower comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space, the housing comprising:
 an inlet; 
 an outlet; 
 a first side and a second side joined by a sidewall, the interior space at least partially between the first and second sides, the first and second sides extending radially inwards from the sidewall to move fluid radially to the outlet; and 
 a radially extending channel comprising an outer end and an inner end, the radially extending channel at least partially formed by the second side; 
 
 an electric motor assembly disposed within the interior space, the electric motor assembly configured to rotate an impeller to draw fluid from the inlet to the outlet; 
 a wire configured to supply electric power to the electric motor assembly, the wire extending from outside the housing into the interior space, a portion of the wire passing through the radially extending channel between the outer and inner ends; 
 a bridge positioned proximate the inner end of the radially extending channel, the bridge extending between sides of the radially extending channel, the bridge configured to retain the wire relative to the radially extending channel; 
 an arm positioned proximate the outer end of the radially extending channel, the arm extending along the sidewall of the housing, the arm configured to retain the wire relative to the radially extending channel; and 
 a cover positioned on the second side of the housing over the radially extending channel, the cover separate from the arm, the portion of the wire extending through the radially extending channel between the interior space and the cover, wherein the radially extending channel comprises an opening into the interior space of the housing, the opening between the outer and inner ends to expose the wire to the interior space between the outer and inner ends. 
 
     
     
       2. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a first axial thickness and a portion of the housing that is adjacent the radially extending channel has a second axial thickness, the first axial thickness being less than the second axial thickness. 
     
     
       3. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an exterior surface on the second side, the exterior surface comprising a recess, the cover received in the recess, the exterior surface on the second side of the housing opposite the interior space. 
     
     
       4. The blower of  claim 3 , wherein a thickness of the recess and a thickness of the cover are dimensioned such that a surface of the cover is generally flush with the exterior surface of the housing. 
     
     
       5. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the radially extending channel comprises an opening into the interior space of the housing, the opening between the outer and inner ends to expose the wire to the interior space between the outer and inner ends. 
     
     
       6. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the wire that passes through the radially extending channel is fully axially received in the radially extending channel. 
     
     
       7. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises an interior surface on the second side, the interior surface facing the interior space wherein the radially extending channel is formed by an opening of the interior surface on the second side of the housing, the opening extending axially into the interior space. 
     
     
       8. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the radially extending channel comprises a first opening at the outer end and a second opening at the inner end, wherein the wire extends from outside the housing into the interior space through the first opening, and wherein the portion of the wire passing through the radially extending channel between the outer and inner ends passes through the first and second openings, respectively. 
     
     
       9. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the wire comprises at least two wires configured to supply electric power to the electric motor assembly, wherein the arm comprises a projection extending from the arm, the projection passing between the at least two wires to separate the at least two wires. 
     
     
       10. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the wire comprises at least two wires configured to supply electric power to the electric motor assembly, wherein the sidewall comprises a projection extending from the sidewall, the projection passing between the at least two wires to separate the at least two wires. 
     
     
       11. A blower comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space, the housing comprising:
 an inlet; 
 an outlet; 
 a first side and a second side joined by a sidewall, the first and second sides extending radially inwards from the sidewall to move fluid radially to the outlet; and 
 a channel comprising an outer end and an inner end, at least a portion of the channel extending in the interior space along the first side; 
 
 an electric motor assembly disposed within the interior space, the electric motor assembly configured to rotate an impeller to draw fluid from the inlet to the outlet; 
 a conductor configured to supply electric power to the electric motor assembly, the conductor extending from outside the housing into the interior space, a portion of the conductor passing through the channel between the outer and inner ends; 
 a first retaining member positioned proximate the inner end of the channel, the first retaining member configured to retain the conductor proximate the inner end of the channel; and 
 a cover positioned on the second side of the housing over the channel, the cover positioned over the at least a portion of the channel extending in the interior space along the first side, the portion of the conductor extending through the channel between the interior space and the cover, wherein the channel comprises an opening into the interior space of the housing, the opening between the outer and inner ends to expose the conductor to the interior space between the outer and inner ends. 
 
     
     
       12. The blower of  claim 11 , wherein the cover has a first axial thickness and a portion of the housing that is adjacent the channel has a second axial thickness, the first axial thickness being less than the second axial thickness. 
     
     
       13. The blower of  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises an exterior surface on the second side, the exterior surface comprising a recess, the recess configured to receive the cover, the exterior surface on the second side of the housing opposite the interior space. 
     
     
       14. The blower of  claim 13 , wherein a thickness of the recess and a thickness of the cover are dimensioned such that a surface of the cover is generally flush with the exterior surface of the housing. 
     
     
       15. The blower of  claim 11 , wherein the channel comprises an opening into the interior space of the housing, the opening between the outer and inner ends to expose the conductor to the interior space between the outer and inner ends. 
     
     
       16. The blower of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the conductor that passes through the channel is fully axially received in the channel. 
     
     
       17. The blower of  claim 11 , a second retaining member positioned proximate the outer end of the channel, the second retaining member configured to retain the conductor proximate the outer end of the channel. 
     
     
       18. The blower of  claim 17 , wherein the conductor comprises at least two conductors configured to supply electric power to the electric motor assembly, wherein the second retaining member comprises a separation member configured to separate the at least two conductors. 
     
     
       19. The blower of  claim 11 , wherein the conductor comprises at least two conductors configured to supply electric power to the electric motor assembly, wherein the sidewall comprises a separation member configured to separate the at least two conductors. 
     
     
       20. A blower comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space, the housing comprising:
 an inlet; 
 an outlet; 
 a first side and a second side joined by a sidewall, the first and second sides extending radially inwards from the sidewall to move fluid radially to the outlet; and 
 a channel comprising an outer end and an inner end, the channel in the second side of the housing; 
 
 an electric motor assembly disposed within the interior space, the electric motor assembly configured to rotate an impeller to draw fluid from the inlet to the outlet; 
 a conductor configured to supply electric power to the electric motor assembly, the conductor extending from outside the housing into the interior space, a portion of the conductor passing through the channel between the outer and inner ends; and 
 a cover positioned on the second side of the housing over the channel, the portion of the conductor at the inner end of the channel extending through the channel between the interior space and the cover, wherein the channel comprises an opening into the interior space of the housing, the opening between the outer and inner ends to expose the conductor to the interior space between the outer and inner ends. 
 
     
     
       21. The blower of  claim 1 , the arm positioned radially separate from the bridge such that the arm and the bridge are configured to retain different portions of the wire. 
     
     
       22. The blower of  claim 21 , further comprising an other bridge positioned radially between the bridge and the arm, the other bridge radially separate from the bridge and the arm such that the other bridge is configured to retain a different portion of the wire from the portions of the wire that the arm and the bridge are configured to retain. 
     
     
       23. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the wire extends through the channel radially between the bridge and the cover. 
     
     
       24. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is configured to be separated from the second side. 
     
     
       25. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the impeller is positioned in the interior space between the first and second sides.